Disclaimer: See the Author's Notes! This is an AU! A/L shounen ai! Thanks for your reviews! I think I know how and why Meron is going to perish- but I have four contenders for who does it. Cast your votes for what race Meron is! Takes place two days after the last chapter! Sorry so short…

Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed

Part 16. Journey

Legolas and Gimli had finally made it out of Moria. Before they had left, the Dwarf had insisted that the pregnant Elf put a mithril coat on for protection, under his clothes, and had given him a short sword, since Legolas' was somewhere in the forest of Rivendell.

Legolas had tried arguing with Gimli, who had refused to give in. The two had fought over it for over three hours, until Legolas had finally give in, because the longer he fought with the Dwarf over accepting the silver-steel mithril and the sword, the longer it would be before he saw Aragorn again.

New clothes had also been given to Legolas and he had cleaned up as best as he could in one of the underground pools of water. He now wore a white, loose shirt with grass-green designs sewn onto the ends of the sleeves, a green vest, whose color matched the color of the sewn designs, dark-red leggings, and soft, light-brown boots. His golden hair hung down to his shoulders, clean and gleaming in the light. Its customary braids had been taken out, before he had washed his hair, but now they had been rewoven into it.

Gimli had not told Legolas where the Elven-made clothes had come from. The Dwarf was determined to make certain of three things. One, that Legolas got back to Rivendell; two, to make sure that the Elf didn't push himself to hard; and three, to keep Legolas safe from harm, for the Elf took needless risks, seemingly unaware of the new life growing in him.

Though the morning sickness still plagued him, a healthy glow shone about Legolas, making him look ethereal, as he walked beside Gimli. His step was light, as he jested with the Dwarf. "Can you not walk a little softer?" the grinning Elf questioned.

"Why would I?" Gimli retorted. "I'm a Dwarf, not a bird."

"I'm not a bird, but I walk lighter than you," Legolas said, amusement twinkling in his azure eyes. He had much to be happy about, for not only was he out of the Mines of Moria, but it was beautiful outside, and the sun shone on the trees and ground. And he was finally returning home to Aragorn, where he belonged.

Gimli was secretly amused by how merry the Elf beside him seemed. "But Elves always walk light," the Dwarf responded.

 Legolas raised an eyebrow slightly. "I should hope so, for Elves can walk over snow and not sink in it."

"Can you walk over water as well?" Gimli slyly asked.

"I have never tried it," Legolas said thoughtfully.

The two continued walking, occasionally having a mock-fight over something. Though Legolas and Gimli had to combine their memories of this place to find the right way to go.

Gimli called for a rest after six hours of walking, and Legolas stubbornly shook his head.

"Aragorn is waiting for me," the Elf muttered.

Gimli raised an eyebrow. "And I'm sure he'll be pleased if I tell him how hard you pushed yourself, especially while you are carrying his child."

Legolas scowled, though a faint blush appeared on his face. "That may be so, but I am scarcely an invalid." The Elf had to admit, though, that he was getting tired. He finally sat down, and leaned against a tree, chewing on more strips of dried fruit.

Gimli sat nearby, drinking some water from his bag. He offered it to the Elf, who thanked him, before drinking deeply as well. The water bag was then handed back, and Legolas finished eating.

"Why are you accompanying me?" he curiously asked. "Since when does a Dwarf care what an Elf does?" He spoke sincerely, so Gimli was not offended by his words.

"You'd just get yourself lost or worse without me, Elf. As for the other part… someone needs to take care of you, since you don't. Besides, you're not as bad as I heard Elves to be," Gimli gruffly admitted.

Legolas grinned. "And you're not as bad as my father says Dwarves are."

The two broke into laughter, until Legolas sighed softly.

Gimli patted his shoulder. "You'll get home to him soon, Legolas. He must be special to have your love and to return it."

"He does not love me, Gimli," Legolas corrected. "I love him. He cares for me, though he never made a secret out of the fact that he does not love me."

"How could he not love you?" Gimli questioned, incredulous. "And why did you marry him, when you knew that he did not?"

Legolas smiled gently, before he spoke. When he did, it sounded as if Legolas was far older than his 2000 years, with a wisdom that only comes from one who has lived for over countless millennia. "I have always loved him, and I always shall. No matter what tries to separate us, in this life or the next."

Gimli stared at the suddenly very enigmatic Elf beside him, taken back by those words. "He still is a fool for not loving you."

"The knowledge that he does care for me is enough to make me happy," Legolas answered. His voice returned to normal, as he stood and stretched. "Shall we continue, then?"

"I suppose, Elf," Gimli muttered. He stood as well, and grabbed his pack, which he had removed when he sat on the ground. He was carrying most of the supplies, refusing to burden Legolas with them. The Elf had also argued about that, so he did carry a bag; a smaller one, with food and some blankets in it.

Legolas walked silently beside Gimli, brooding silently. It would take a little while to reach Rivendell, and Legolas wanted to see Aragorn so badly again… But he did take some comfort from what the trees were telling him; to not give up hope yet. As Aragorn's Elvish name had been Estel, which meant hope, it was reassuring.

Gimli shook his head, when nearly an hour had gone by with no words being spoken. The Dwarf grumbled low in his throat, muttering about "strange Elves".

"Elves are strange?" Legolas said, frowning. He had heard Gimli's remark clearly with his Elven hearing. "I would think that Dwarves are the strange ones; they prefer to live in mines and caverns, forsaking trees. How can one live without trees?"

So the two, tentative friends got into a debate over which race was stranger; Dwarves or Elves.

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Rivendell

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Aragorn had had enough of waiting. He was going to go search for Legolas, with or without his father's permission. The half Elf grabbed some of his belongings, changed into fresh teal leggings, a yellow shirt, and a brown tunic, and strapped his sword on, before he began sneaking out of Rivendell.

He was not going to just stand around and wait for news of Legolas from Faramir, who was out searching for Legolas on his way back towards Gondor. Aragorn was certain that he would be able to find his betrothed more easily than any other, because of their bond. It would lead him directly to his husband, wherever he might be. Unless Legolas truly was as far away as Mordor.

Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn caught Aragorn leaving, and did something very surprising. They let him go, instead of telling Elrond.

'We understand that you must go after him, Aragorn, but take this warning,' Celeborn told the young one.

Galadriel inclined her head towards the half Elf. 'Be careful; do not let yourself get harmed or injured severely, for Legolas will feel that pain as well.'

Aragorn nodded slowly. 'I will.' The half Elf then left, leaving Celeborn and Galadriel staring after him.

'May Elbereth watch over them both,' Galadriel murmured.

Celeborn nodded. 'I pray it tis so.'

***********

Mirkwood

***********

Mithrandir finally arrived at Mirkwood, and entered the castle. The Istari asked to be taken to the King of Mirkwood and was led there by an Elf.

Thranduil sat beside a window, looking out at his Elven Kingdom. He briefly looked up to see Mithrandir enter the room, before he turned away.

'Thranduil?' Mithrandir questioned, as he walked over to the Elven king, who ignored him. The Istari frowned, and touched Thranduil on the shoulder.

The Elven King did not respond again, so Mithrandir positioned himself to where he could see into Thranduil's eyes. The Istari gasped, because he recognized the look in the glazed eyes.

It was the look of someone under a powerful enchantment of enslavement.

Mithrandir instantly began casting a counter-spell, to free King Thranduil of the spell that had him prisoner.

**************

Somewhere Else

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Frodo, Merry, Sam, and Pippin had split up into two groups, with Merry and Sam going with Haldir, and Pippin and Frodo going with Glorfindel, as they spread the word of the reward that would be given to any that returned the lost Elven Prince to his home.

To be continued